The darkness was absolute. For a moment, I couldn’t even hear my own breathing over the sudden, deafening silence. My heart raced, thudding in my chest like a drum, but all I could do was stand there, clutching the device, waiting for something—anything—to happen.

Then, a faint whirring sound began to rise from somewhere deep within the walls. I tensed, every muscle in my body coiled like a spring. The floor beneath me shuddered, and I felt the air shift as hidden mechanisms groaned to life.

Stay calm. Think.

The sound grew louder, the walls themselves vibrating with the intensity. My instincts screamed at me to move, but where? I was blind in this black void, surrounded by threats I couldn’t even see. The only thing I had was the device, its red light now flashing rapidly, casting eerie shadows that danced and twisted across the chamber.

Then, a sudden rush of air—the walls were closing in. I could feel the pressure change, the heat building as the room constricted around me. I had to move, but without sight, it was like trying to navigate a minefield blindfolded.

I stumbled forward, the device gripped tightly in one hand. Every instinct told me this was a dead end, that there was no way out. But I couldn’t give in. Not now.

As I took a step, the floor beneath me gave way. I fell, a scream tearing from my throat as I tumbled into a new abyss, the red light of the device illuminating jagged walls rushing past me. I braced for impact, but instead of hitting solid ground, I landed on something soft, the air forced out of my lungs with a grunt.

I scrambled to my feet, the device still clutched in my hand. The walls around me pulsed with a dull red glow, like the inside of some giant, living creature. I was in a tunnel—no, a chute, and it was closing in, the walls slowly contracting like a throat swallowing its prey.

The thought struck like a hammer, but I forced it down, pushing myself to move. The tunnel ahead was narrow, the walls slick with some unknown substance that made every step a struggle. I couldn’t see where it led, but it was my only option.

I half-crawled, half-ran through the narrowing passage, the device now vibrating in my hand, the red light strobing in sync with my frantic heartbeat. The tunnel curved and twisted, the walls pressing in tighter with every second. I could feel them brushing against my shoulders, squeezing the air from my lungs.

Faster, Caine. You have to go faster.

But my body was failing me. Every breath burned, every movement sent agony ripping through my exhausted muscles. And still, the walls kept closing in.

Then, up ahead, I saw it—a faint glimmer of light, a way out. I pushed harder, ignoring the pain, the panic rising in my chest. The tunnel was almost too tight now, my shoulders scraping against the sides as I forced myself forward.

The light grew brighter, almost blinding after the oppressive darkness. I reached out, my fingers brushing against the edge of the exit. I was so close.

Suddenly, the tunnel shifted, the walls clamping down with terrifying force. I screamed as the crushing weight pinned me, the exit just inches away. The device in my hand beeped urgently, the vibrations growing stronger, almost painful.

No. Not like this. Not now.

With one last, desperate surge of strength, I pushed against the walls, forcing my body through the narrowing gap. My arm reached out, grasping for the light, for freedom.

The device let out a shrill, piercing tone that reverberated through the tunnel. Then, everything exploded in a blinding flash of red.

The world spun, a violent cacophony of sound and light. I was falling again, the ground ripping away beneath me. I braced for the impact, but this time, there was nothing—no floor, no walls, just an endless, terrifying void.

Then, everything went silent.

When I came to, I was lying on cold, hard ground, the air thick with dust and the scent of scorched metal. My body ached in ways I didn’t know were possible. The device was gone, the weight of it vanished from my hand.

Slowly, I forced my eyes open. The room was dark, but not the oppressive void from before. Dim emergency lights flickered along the walls, revealing twisted wreckage—metal beams torn apart, the remains of the chamber I had just been in.

I pushed myself to my feet, wobbling unsteadily. What the hell had just happened? The man’s words echoed in my mind, a cruel taunt.

"Choose wisely, Caine. Your life depends on it."

But what had I chosen? I was alive, but barely. And there was no sign of what lay ahead—no way to know if I had passed the test or fallen into another of their traps.

As I stood there, catching my breath, a new sound reached my ears—a slow, steady clapping. My blood ran cold.

From the shadows, the man stepped forward, his face no longer obscured, a twisted grin playing on his lips. He wasn’t alone. Behind him, figures emerged—dozens of them, their faces hidden behind masks, their eyes watching me with unsettling intensity.

“Well done, Caine,” the man said, his voice carrying a hint of satisfaction. “You’ve survived the crucible. And with it, you’ve passed the final test.”

I stared at him, the words sinking in slowly. This was it. The final test. After everything, I had finally reached the end. But the relief I expected never came. Instead, I felt a cold, creeping dread.

The man stepped closer, his eyes locking onto mine. “You’ve proven yourself capable of surviving the worst we can throw at you. But survival is only the beginning. What comes next will test more than just your strength. It will test your resolve, your loyalty, your very identity.”

He motioned to the figures behind him, and they stepped forward, surrounding me. I tensed, ready to fight, but the man held up a hand, stopping them.

“No more tests, Caine,” he said softly, almost kindly. “Welcome to the real challenge. Welcome to your new life.”

He turned, walking away as the figures closed in around me, their hands firm but not hostile as they guided me toward the exit. The door opened, revealing a long, dimly lit corridor that stretched into the distance.

As I was led through the doorway, the man’s voice echoed one last time, a whisper in the back of my mind.

“You’ve unleashed something within yourself today, Caine. Something that can’t be undone. Now, you must decide what to do with it.”

The door closed behind me, sealing away the chamber—and everything it represented.

The nightmare was over. But what lay ahead was a different kind of hell.

@mcynyxt